Pandorea jasminoides

Pandorea jasminoides Lady Di

This frost-sensitive Australian native (ht 5 m) is an excellent twining climber for a pergola or trellis, and blooms over a long period, from late spring until autumn. It belongs to the Bignoniaceae family of plants. My Pandorea has never become too rampageous. Its glossy green leaves and bold trumpet flowers are right at home hovering above my borders of Salvia, Dahlia and Canna. It is sometimes known colloquially as the bower vine.

Pandorea jasminoides

Pandorea jasminoides

The basic species has pale pink flowers with a deep purplish throat; I also grow the white cultivar 'Lady Di'. It enjoys well-drained, humus-rich soil in a sunny spot but will also do pretty well in part or dappled shade. It benefits from being clipped back after flowering, especially to remove any large woody seedpods that form.